Lactose intolerance in prostate cancer patients: incidence and associated factors.
OBJECTIVE
Osteoporosis is common in prostate cancer (CaP) patients both before and after institution of androgen deprivation therapy and is associated with significant morbidity. Lactose intolerance (LI) can affect bone mass but has not been studied in this group of patients. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of LI in CaP patients with that in the general population and to identify factors affecting lactose intolerance in CaP patients.


METHODS
Fifty-five men with CaP planned for bilateral orchidectomy were enrolled in the study and their baseline characteristics including age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), prostate-specific antigen, serum calcium profile, lactose tolerance status, physical activity, alcohol intake and smoking, bone mineral density and calcium intake were registered. The data on lactose tolerance in these patients were compared with those of 81 age-matched controls (data taken from the available database).


RESULTS
The incidence of LI in CaP patients was significantly less than that in the control group (36.2% and 58.3%, respectively, p = 0.027). A significantly greater number of CaP patients in the lactose-tolerant group had a calcium intake of >1500 mg/day (p = 0.03) and that of milk >500 ml/day (p = 0.05) than those in the intolerant group. Age >70 years, BMI <25 kg/m2, height >163 cm, lower physical activity and co-abuse of alcohol and smoking significantly correlated with the presence of LI (p < or = 0.05). Patients with serum calcium <9 mg/dl had higher fasting breath H2 levels and a higher proportion had a BMI >25 kg/m2 and weight >65 kg.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of LI in CaP patients is less than that in the general population despite a higher incidence of osteoporosis, indicating a complex etiology of CaP-related osteoporosis. Certain physical characteristics and personal habits are important in determining lactose-tolerant status.
Agarwal
Mayank Mohan
MM
Department of Urology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. drmayank.22@yahoo.co.in
Rana
Satyavati V
SV
Mandal
Arup Kumar
AK
Malhotra
Sunita
S
Khandelwal
Niranjan
N
Kumar
Santosh
S
Acharya
Naveen Chandra
NC
Singh
Shrawan Kumar
SK
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007785:Lactose / Q000097:blood*; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D007785:Lactose